Passing values between FWM and RS

Our reports are grouped into categories. Each user has a different security profile for each category. In order to find out what data the user is entitled to see we need to use both the userid and the category name to lookup the security tables.

Is it possible to define a Framework Manager variable or prompt and pass it to Report Studio to set to report name (without prompting)then use this value in framwork manager to lookup the category?

We tried to use ReportName function but were told it is not available within Framework Manager. We are new to cognos and open to any other suggestions.

Popular White Paper On This Topic

FWM is the metadata modeling tool not a reporting tool. This is why you will not have access to a report name within FWM. You should try to describe what you are trying to accomplish so we can advise you better. Variables can be created in RS but not FWM. Prompts can be created in both. Again, why do you need reportname in FWM?

The reason why we need the report name is, our security tables have categories (buckets) defined. Each report belongs to a category. A user can have security profiles across more than one category. eg:
Report 1 belongs to Cat 1
Report 2 belongs to Cat 2

User 1 has access to Japan in Cat 1
User 1 has access to China in Cat 2

When User 1 wants to run report 1 we need to limit the country to japan. But if they run report 2 we need to limit the report to China.

We wanted to enforce security within FWM instead of RS without creating packages for each category. To do that we need to use both the userid and the category name in the filtering on the security tables to lookup what that user is entitled to see and enforce within the model.

Session Parameters give us the userid. Since we can't access Report Name from FWM we need to move this filter to RS. We are trying to see if it is possible to have a prompt in FWM that can be set in Report Studio without the end user/consumer/report runner getting prompted. This way we enforce the report author to set this value.

We have tried two ways to create a prompt in FWM. The Prompt macro function and ?parameter?. We don't know how to set the value of this prompt without the prompt coming up at run time.

Report Authors will be developing reports. These will be saved in Cognos Connection. End users will access these reports through our own web front end which already has reports developed in other tools. We are trying to add cognos reports to our website.
Your comment about hidden prompt, is that in Report Studio?
I would like to apply a prompt (within a filter) in FWM to force Report Authors to set the value for Report Name (as we can lookup the category). I don't want end users (consumers) to see this prompt when they run the report. Is there a way to do that? (create a prompt in FWM and set it in report studio by report authors so that the prompt won't be seen at runtime). If this can not be done in FWM then report authors will need to apply a filter on Report name and set the value to current report name (without the need for a prompt). This is the solution I am trying to avoid but it maybe the only way to go. I wanted to enforce security in FWM but can't access the report name and don't want to create separate packages for each category.

The intent is to have FM packages used for multiple reports (including future reports that are TBD). Thus, report names are not, by design, available in FM.
Any db-level security that you use passes through to FM and thus to RS.
Another potential would be to use common calculations - these are coding available in FM that is outside of any particular query / recordset.
In general, if you want to apply user-specific security that is not at the db level, you'll probably have to do it in RS.
As a newbie to Cognos - a word of advice. Cognos does not work in the same way that traditional db / reporting systems work. Take the time to learn how Cognos works, and fit your needs within that structure. What Cognos does, it does very, very, very well. But it is not terribly forgiving to those who try to force traditional thinking, data structures, and reporting on it.
If you want Cognos to do something a particular way, you're probably out of luck. If you can / are willing to back off and say, this is the functionality / need I'm trying to meet - how can base Cognos work so that need is met, then you'll find Cognos an extremely powerful (and typically very quick) tool.

Your case is very complicated and I don't know if I understood it correctly. I can think of 2 ways
First of all, build a security table tbl_Security with Username, Catogory, Country
1. If you have limited Category, I suggest you to build different dimensions for each category and add the filter in the dimension. E.g. You have a geography dimension with Country_ID, Country Name, in the filter you put Category = 1 and Logon User = tbl_Security.username. Then you use different category dimensions to join with the fact to create different star schemas to be used in reports.
2. If you have quite a lot categorys and you don't want to create that many star schemas. Then you just create one dimension as above but don't put the category = 1 filter. And in the report, you create a prompt as category, put default value as 1, you click on the prompt control, select the "Box Type" as None, then you won't see this prompt when running the report.
Hope this helps
Sherry

Why you have to create so many categories? In cognos you have many differents security schemas. You can add security in cognos connection to each report created in report studio based on user classes.
In FM, you usually add data filters, which mean that based on user filter only some data for that user. You can combine those tools to have the filters that you want. Group your users and see what data they can have access and what not, look up for similarities and differents.
I hope it can help.